Kathmandu, Aug 18 (UNI) The US has agreed to assist the Nepalese Army in purchasing two helicopters for disaster response, a media report said.
This was revealed during the day-long official visit to Kathmandu of US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma.
During his stay in Kathmandu, Deputy Secretary Verma met with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, MyRepublica reported.
Their discussions focused on US’ support for Nepal’s aspirations to build a sustainable, inclusive future and on strengthening the U.S.-Nepal partnership, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu.
The U.S. Embassy also revealed that the United States has expressed its readiness to assist the Nepalese Army in purchasing helicopters for disaster response. The Nepalese Army had previously requested US support to acquire two helicopters during Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma’s visit to the United States.
Deputy Secretary Verma conveyed that the U.S. has agreed to fund the purchase of these additional helicopters, which will bolster Nepal’s disaster response capabilities.
Verma also met with officials from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal to discuss the progress of the MCC Nepal Compact. The contract for constructing the transmission line has already been awarded, and MCA Nepal is now accelerating efforts to upgrade a section of the East-West Highway as a part of the projects executed with the $500 million MCC grant.
Verma departed for India following his Nepal visit.
